Fashion

I am so excited about my new handbag, Audrey Brooke’s Leopard Satchel, that I couldn’t keep this fabulous find to myself. The photo doesn’t do this bag justice, so I shot a video to highlight its prettiness.

Besides being extremely cute (doesn’t it look designer?), well made and roomy, it was also crazy affordable. I would value this bag at about $200-250, but I snagged it for less than $100. It’s on sale at DSW for $129.95, but if you buy it online, you can use coupon codes to get a great deal. The awesome thing about DSW.com is that you can combine codes. By combining some random codes I researched online and cashing in some coupons I received as a DSW Rewards member (sign up…it’s free!), I saved $30 and got free shipping. Here are some codes to get you started:

The Leopard Satchel is also available with camel leather. If this bag is a bit big for you, Audrey Brooke has a similar, smaller Leopard Cross Body Bag. And with all the cash you’re saving, you might want to snatch up a matching wallet.

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So this weekend, I went shoe shopping at Macy’s and bought these super fun Wowza sandals (also available in gold) from Nine West. They look so good on my feet that the $79 price tag didn’t really faze me. But it sure stung later that day when I saw my new shoes on ninewest.com – for $32 cheaper!

Now, if it was only a $5, $10, or $15 difference, I might have just cursed my bad luck and got on with my life. But $32 is a different story. So I went back to Macy’s, returned the sandals and then bought them online when I returned home. I even managed to find a free shipping coupon code, so I made out like a bandit.

Only down side is that I have to wait about a week to wear my cute new kicks.

There’s a special occasion on the horizon and you’ve got nothing to wear. So you search and search (and search some more) for the perfect dress. Except you never find it, and you end up settling on a dress that’s event appropriate and looks halfway decent because you’ve run out of time and going naked isn’t an option. So once you’ve donned the so-so dress, it gets banished to the back of your closet – never to be worn again because, frankly, you were never truly in love with it to begin with.

Story of my life. Maybe my problem is that I’m a celebrity – in my own head – who hates to wear the same special outfit twice. Or perhaps it’s that getting all dolled up in a fresh frock is so damn fun.

So a few weeks ago as I planned a blog business trip to NYC, I was literally trippin’ about my lack of wardrobe options. After an exhaustive search for the perfect ensemble, I was almost ready to settle on this sad sundress hanging in my closet…until I remembered Rent The Runway, a website were you can rent designer dresses and accessories.

Here’s how it works: Search the dresses and accessories you love from over 100 of the top designers in the world. Schedule a delivery date. Select a FREE backup dress size for the perfect fit. The dresses and accessories are yours for 4 or 8 days! When you’re done looking cute, put your order in the pre-paid package and drop it in the nearest USPS mailbox. They take care of the dry cleaning.

Since I’m petite with an hourglass figure, finding a dress that fits is the proverbial needle in a haystack. So as I perused Rent The Runway’s selection, I opted for the India Paisley Dress from Tibi (left)- thanks to the short length and adjustable straps. The dress also has hidden boy shorts underneath, which was an added bonus. And if you rent a second dress, it’s only $25. So I also chose this By The Lily Pond Dress by Yumi Kim (right) – just in case the Tibi dress was a bust. If you’re particularly concerned about fit, there are great user reviews – or you can chat with a “fit specialist.”

To complete my outfit, I rented these gorge Kendra Scott Danielle earrings in Turquoise. It pained me so much to return them that, this weekend, I broke down and bought them at the designer’s website (and scored 20% off with promo code PSW20 – expires 7/5).

Oh…and I forgot to mention that Rent The Runway just announced that they have Lancôme products available for purchase!

I had such a great rental experience that I want to give Spoiled Pretty readers the opportunity to try it too. So I’m partnering with Rent The Runway on a fash-tastic giveaway, and one lucky lady will win a $100 gift card!!!

To enter, visit Rent The Runway and sign up for membership (it’s free!). Browse the dress selection, pick your favorite and tell me (in the comments) what you picked and where/how you’d rock it. Be sure to post your email, Twitter handle (make sure you’re following @spoiledpretty so I can DM you) or some other way for me to get in touch if you win. To be eligible, you must reside in the Continental U.S.